League Rules & Scoring System

Currently sponsored by "the Gridiron" at FantasyFootballer.com, the "Crystal Ball Fantasy League (CBFL)" is a unique venture to find out, of the participants of an early offseason mock draft, whose thinking and predictions back at that time were, in fact, the best.  The league was originally established in May of 2001 as a spin-off of FF Today's Mock Draft #1.  Playing out the mock draft as just a regular league was briefly considered, but there were many concerns, not the least of which was the potential variance in the efforts of the team owners following the draft.  As a consequence, the CBFL has a hands-off format unlike that of a typical fantasy football league.  In accordance, so as to make the draft the ultimate determiner, post-draft management had to be eliminated.  Though this system is not one that should be looked upon as a model for mainstream fantasy leagues, it does provide an intriguing option for those out there who:  1) have a habit of ending up playing in too many leagues, and 2) want a true test of their draft mettle.  Also, the approach inherently incorporates some innovative specifics, which could be applied in a more typical fantasy league framework.

Here are the particulars of and rules particular to the "Crystal Ball" system:

• NO post-draft transactions are permitted.  There is no trading or free-agent selections, injuries notwithstanding.  Prediction and creating a solid and balanced foundation in the draft are the keys to the "Crystal Ball" scheme.

• There are NO weekly lineup submissions.  The composition of weekly starting lineups are determined according to a "Best Ball" format, not all too dissimilar from that of golf's.  In other words, only the points accumulated by a team's best fantasy performers at each position as per the scoring system are used in the scoring.

Teams are drafted/rosters are put together according to the following guidelines:

• 12 teams

• 16 components (drafted in no particular predetermined order) - 2 QB's, 4 RB's, 4 WR's, 2 TE's, 2 PK's, 1 D/ST and 1 swing player, which cannot be a defense/special teams, but is otherwise up to the discretion of the team owner.

Starting lineups consist of the following:

• 8 components - 1 QB, 2 RB's, 2 WR's, 1 TE, 1 PK and 1 D/ST.
                           With one week off at the position of D/ST due to bye-weeks.

Finally, here is the scoring system/points structure:

• 1 point for every:  10 yards rushing, 10 yards receiving, 20 yards passing , PAT kicked, PAT received, PAT thrown;
• 2 points for every:  PAT rushed; safety, sack, interception, fumble recovery on D/ST.
• 3 points for every:  field goal;
• 4 points for every:  touchdown thrown;
• 6 points for every:  rushing, receiving touchdown; fumble recovery, interception, kickoff, punt returned for a touchdown by D/ST;
• -1 point for every:  interception thrown, fumble lost; point allowed, 25 yards allowed by D/ST.

Notes on the Standings and how the Champion is crowned:

• There are no head-to-head games.  Each week each team accumulates points based on the production of their starting lineup.   Each team then has its points for the week added to the team's total points on the season.  A team's position in the Standings any given week is determined by their total points for the season through that week.  The League Champion is the team with the most cumulative points at the close of the 17-week season.
• Starting in 2003, as the CBFL will become a "main event" of sorts on "the Gridiron" and other forum members may want the opportunity to join in, the bottom 4 teams (third of the league) in the final standings will NOT be invited back for the following season.  They will be allowed to reenter the pool of candidates only after one full season has passed.